Planner I

Archuletacounty; Pagosa Springs (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Archuletacounty is seeking an entry-level to two-year Planning Assistant to support planning reviewers, respond to public inquiries about land use, and help prepare staff reviews using ArcGIS and Microsoft Office.

The role includes processing applications and recorded documents, assisting in board meetings, keeping department records, and delivering courteous customer service to the public in a busy county office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban & Regional Planning or related field is required.
• Entry level to two years of experience in local government or similar duties.
• Knowledge of planning principles and practice; familiarity with routine software applications; modern office practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public with land use inquiries and planning submittals.
• Prepare planning staff reviews and staff reports.
• Assist with Planning Commission agendas and minutes and document management.
• Write and organize responses regarding approvals, permits and inspections.
• Provide professional customer service and respond to public inquiries.
• Attend Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners meetings as needed.

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Assists the public with the planning review processes, land use and other inquiries; analyzes development submittals; helps write staff reviews; assists the Director with review of land use applications and special projects; performs a variety of administrative functions including the processing of applications and recorded documents, assigning addressees and general filing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives direct supervision from the Director of Development.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. The administration retains the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time.

Assist the public with land use inquiries, including researching and compiling information to answer customer questions.

Assists the public with planning submittals, including all processes outlined in the Land Use Regulations.

Performs a variety of administrative functions including but not limited to processing applications and recorded documents; preparing Planning Commission agendas and minutes; organizing information to ensure that the appropriate information is distributed in agenda packets; and updating applications and organizing a wide variety of departmental information.

Analyzes development submittals to ensure completeness and compliance with County regulations.

Write staff reports (e.g. subdivision applications, lot consolidations, rezoning and Conditional Use Permit requests, variance requests, etc.).

Utilizes daily, word processing, spreadsheet, and mapping programs such as Microsoft Office and ArcGIS software.

Assigns and changes addresses as needed and assists the public in determining their physical address.

Assists in the writing of proposed resolutions for adoption by the Board of County Commissioners.

Assists the Director with review of land use applications and special projects.

Provides information regarding new and existing projects, answers questions pertaining to approvals, permits and inspections, general code compliance, procedures, and materials.

Helps manage and retain department records and documents for required periods and makes available as needed including public records request, conduct research of documents project history and code compliance.

Assists with customer service and reception duties for the department both over the phone, by email and in person.

Attends Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioner meetings and special meetings as needed.

OTHER DUTIES

Performs other duties as assigned and required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities may be qualifying.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Urban & Regional Planning or a related field required.

Experience: Entry level to two years of experience in local government or in the performance of similar duties and responsibilities.

Knowledge of:

Principles and practice of planning.

Routine software and business applications, including but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and databases.

Modern office practices and procedures.

Ability to:

Must have excellent computer software skills; excellent math skills; excellent grammar, and oral and written communication skills; and excellent organizational and customer service skills.

Present staff reports and presentations to the Planning Commission.

Provide professional customer service to clients and public.

Communicate clearly and concisely, in addition to interpersonal skills with the public.

Ability to review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances.

Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously.

Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed.

Ability to attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind.

Exercise effective organizational skills and work in a diversified environment.

Accomplish the assigned workload in a timely manner and meet established performance standards and objectives.

Perform data entry, typing, and computer work at sufficient level of skill to accurately complete a relatively heavy workload in a timely manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires frequent moderate lifting/carrying (up to 49 pounds) and occasional heavy lifting/carrying (50 pounds and over). Requires frequent standing, sitting, pushing/pulling, bending/stooping, twisting, kneeling and squatting.

Ability to conduct activities requiring climbing, stooping, kneeling/bending, crawling, twisting and reaching on a moderate to substantial basis.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth deception and the ability to adjust focus. Have the ability to see small objects at a distance, to identify objects in low light or bright light, to see movement in a wide field of vision and to see and distinguish close objects, such as in reading detailed documents.

Requires full range of peripheral vision to monitor multiple computer systems.

Requires full range of hearing to monitor telephone systems. Ability to hear and conduct routine conversations. Have the ability to hear a wide range of sounds, to distinguish type of sound and where it originates.

Ability to work with hands above shoulder height or arms extended at shoulder height. The employee is required to use hand to finger, handle, grasp or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms, talking in person and via telephone or radio. This position is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, run or crouch.

Requires repetitive movement's standard in office-related activities such as typing and sitting and standing.

May work holidays, weekends and as needed.

On occasion, may be required to work more than the normal eight-hour day/forty-hour week in the performance of duties.

WORK ENVIROMENT

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of the position.

Work is typically performed in a busy office. That office may (potentially) be exposed to hostile or argumentative clients.

The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.